Have you seen the new USDA food guide? The new food guide (and its website choosemyplate.gov) were just released this month. This change is one of many that the USDA has made to the food guide over the years. The first USDA Food Guide was created in 1916. Since then there have been seven new food guides. You may remember the last version, MyPyramid, which came out in 2005. MyPyramid has now been replaced by ChooseMyPlate.

So, what’s the difference? Well, ChooseMyPlate emphasizes three general areas regarding making healthy changes. The recommendations are less specific than those on the previous food guide. ChooseMyPlate focuses on three areas: balancing calories, foods that you should increase in your diet, and foods you should decrease in your diet. Even though the recommendations are more general, you can check out 10 tips that give more detailed healthy eating strategies.

There have been some great changes to the food guide and some points to keep in mind when you‘re putting together a healthy meal. It’s important to know that milk isn’t the only beverage you need to be drinking. You should also drink water! For some reason, neither the ChooseMyPlate icon nor the nutrition tips mention that healthy dietary fats should be included in a balanced diet. Even though they didn’t make it on the plate, you should still try to eat healthy dietary fats that are found in nuts, salmon, avocados, and oils. You might have also noticed that there aren’t any recommendations for physical activity. Just because ChooseMyPlate only focuses on healthy eating doesn’t change the fact that exercise is important!

So, what should you remember? A healthy plate includes a variety of foods plus healthy dietary fats. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, and stay physically active!

-Nutritionist Orianna